Skid base for machinery and the like



Feb. 26, 1946. A, R, MAIER 2,395,415

SKID BASE FOR MACHINERY AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 18 1944 Patented F eb. 26, 1946 SKID BASE FOB MAGH-INERY THE LIKE Au us 3- e e City; Ba. ss q o Q." a

Well sup ly cflml any, a fitrporatibn of New Jers y Application November 18, 1944, Serial No. 564,141

'4 Qlaims.

the construction of saidbase, and which are readily accessible for towing and lifting the same. I further have in View the provision of such means in a base of maximum width, as determined by the minimum allowable road clearance therefor, without extending such means beyond the said limits of such base.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a skid base for ma chinery or the like embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view thereof taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating the initial formation of the ends of the kid members.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a skid base, generally of rectangular configuration, including outer skid members I forming the longi tudinal sides of the base, and one or more intermediate skid members 2 extending parallel to the side skid members I. Suitable cross members 3 are secured between the skid members I and 2 and are welded to the latter to form an open gridlike base. Transverse tubular end members 4 are connected to the end portions of the skid members I and 2 as by means of welding, and additional cross members 5 may be employed, proportioned and arranged as may be necessary for mounting and supporting the load to be carried by the base.

For example, prime movers, pumps, hoists and other heavy machinery and epuipment may be mounted on such a skid base, providing with said base, a rigid but portable unitary structure which may be transported as a unit by sliding the same upon the skid members I and 2.

Skid members I and 2 are preferably formed of beams of the type herein designated as H-type beams, including H-beams, I-beams, and the like, said beams having the central portions of the ends of the webs thereof arcuately cut away as indicated at 6 in Fig. 4, in order to fit and embrace substantially one-half of the circumference of tubular members 4, to which said webs are secured by welding. In addition, the end portions of said beam webs are relieved or cut away at 1 by the removal of inwardly tapering portions be tween the cut-out portions 6 and the flanges 8 of the beams. After relieving the webs in the manner described, the ends of the flanges 8 are bent downwardly into contact with the websbi the beams and the tubular transverse members 4, and upon being welded in such position, provide rounded nose or end portions upon said'skid members enabling the same to readily pass over obstacles when the skid base is being transported.

The transportation of large and heavy unitsof machinery generally requires a skid base having a transverse over-all'width substantiallyeiciual to th iull extent of the minimum road clearance permitted when transporting such machinery on public highways. In order therefore to maintain the maximum width of the skid base and to provide corner towing attachments within said maximum width, the outer corne portions of the flanges 8 of skid members I are relieved or cut away outwardly from the webs thereof, as indicated at 9, and by extending the terminals II] of the transverse tubular members 4 outwardly to the full maximum width of the base, the said terminals will be exposed for the application of a towing rope o cable thereto. Enlarged caps or collars Il may be provided on the terminals ID to prevent the rope or cable from sliding therefrom.

Hence, it will be seen that by providing the exposed posts or terminals ID at at least one end of the skid base, a towing bridle or separate ropes or cables may be quickly and effectively applied to the base for the handling thereof. The relieved or cut away portions 9 provide for ready engagement and disengagement of rope bights, by passage of the rope through the planes of the skid flanges adjacent the terminals and also accommodate the rope during towing or lifting of the base without interference by the edges of the flanges '8 of said skid members.

Various changes and modifications are contemplated within the scope of the following claims.

said members bent to form rounded nose portions partially embracing one of the end members, said end member having free terminals extending outwardly beyond the webs of the skid members, and said skid members having the outside corner portions of said flanges cut away to expose said terminals for access thereto through the planes of said flanges.

2. A skid base for machinery and the like, including a plurality of longitudinal skid members formed of H-type beams, and transverse members secured thereto to form a grid-like structure, said transverse members including a pair of end members secured to the ends of said skid members, one of said end members being at least partially embraced by the flanges of the outer skid members at the corners of the base formed thereby,

the terminals of said transverse end member extending to substantially the outer limits of the flanges of the outer skid members, and said'outer cut away between said central cut-out portions 7 and the flanges of the skid members, and said flanges having the end portions thereof bent downwardly along said cut-out web portions toward the transverse end members forming rounded nose portions on the skid members, the terminals of one of said transverse end members extending to substantially the outer limits of the flanges of the side skid members, and said side I skid members having the outer corner portions of the flanges thereof cut away to expose said terminals for freeaccess thereto through the plane 'thereto to form a grid-like structure, said transverse members including a pair of tubular end members, the skid members having the ends of the webs thereof arcuately cut away to receive and partially embrace the end members, said webs also being cut away between said central cut-out portions and the flanges of the skid members, and said flanges having the end portions thereof bent downwardly along said cut-out, web portions toward the transverse end members forming rounded nose portions on the skid members, the terminals of one of said transverse end members extending to substantially the outer limits of the flanges of the side skid members, and said side skid members having the outer corner portions of the flanges thereof cut away to expose said terminals for free access thereto through the planes of said flanges.

AUGUST MAIER. 

